Minerals Flashcards
How many minerals are there
There are between 2,000 - 3,000 in the Earth’s crust.
Native elements
made of only one element (Gold, Iron, Copper)
Compounds
a mixture of elements.
examples of compounds
oxides, carbonates, and sulfides and silicates.
what are minerals composed of?
atoms of elements bonded together
elements in the periodic table
113 total, 92 are found naturally.
8 most common in earth crust
- 6% Oxygen (O)
- 7% Silicon (Si)
- 1% Aluminum (Al)
- 0% Iron (Fe)
- 6% Calcium (Ca)
- 8% Sodium (Na)
- 6% Potassium (K)
- 1% Magnesium (Mg)
atoms
the main components to elements. which all have the same amount of protons, electrons, and neutrons.
protons
positively charged subatomic particles.
Neutrons
neutrally charged subatomic particles.
electrons
negatively charged subatomic particles.
location of subatomic particles
Protons and Neutrons are in the Nucleus (center), while electrons are located around, forming clouds.
why do atoms of elements form compounds
Atoms bond with other atoms to complete their outer electron shells. when their outer electron shells are complete, they are more stable.
two main types of bonds
Ionic and covalent bonds.
Iconic bonding
a metal gives an electron to an atom which needs extra electrons. This causes both atoms to be charged (IONS). One has a positive charge (it has more protons than electrons) and the other a negative charge. This causes an attraction between the atoms. Materials bonded this way are usually brittle with poor electrical conductivity.
Covalent bonding
bonding occurs in ceramics, glass, wood and other organic materials. covalent bonding share electrons in their outer shell creating full shells for both. Example (diamond, water)
polymorphs
Minerals which have the same chemistry but different crystal structures.
Van der Vaals
formed from an electrostatic charge in adjacent atoms. It is present between long-chained molecules in polymers bonding the chains together.
descriptions of non-metallic
non-metallic features could be glassy, waxy, pearly, or dull.
cleavage
the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth planes parallel to zones of weak bonding.
Fracture
the tendency of a mineral to break along curved surfaces without a definite shape. These minerals do not have planes of weakness and break irregularly.
